A key court date is now on the calendar in a Pontiac homicide case. A preliminary examination for Anthony Louis Ward, a 41-year-old Waterford Township man accused in the November killing of 36-year-old Deevon Cornea Brown, is scheduled for June 12. Brown was shot on November 15, 2025 and later died at a hospital, and Ward remains held at the Oakland County Jail while the case moves forward.
Preliminary exam set for June
The June 12 preliminary exam is scheduled before Judge Jeremy Bowie at 50th District Court, where the judge will decide whether there is probable cause to send the case to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial, according to The Oakland Press. Jail records cited by that outlet list Ward as being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
Charges and prosecutor statement
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald has charged Ward with second-degree murder, two counts of felony firearm, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to a press release from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. In that statement, McDonald said, "My thoughts are with Deevon Brown's loved ones as they mourn their loss," and her office said it intends to pursue accountability in the case.
How investigators say the shooting unfolded
Authorities say deputies responded to multiple 911 calls about shots fired on the morning of November 15, 2025, first to the 80 block of Wall Street and then to the nearby 200 block of Osmun Street, where they found Brown suffering from gunshot wounds, according to CBS Detroit. Brown was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Investigators then canvassed the neighborhood, followed up on leads, and reviewed available footage and other evidence.
Arrest and custody
The Oakland County Sheriff's fugitive apprehension team arrested Ward in Farmington Hills a few hours after the shooting, and he was arraigned in 50th District Court, ClickOnDetroit reported. That earlier coverage noted he was initially held without bond at arraignment. More recent jail records cited by The Oakland Press now list a $1,000,000 bond, with Ward still in county custody.
What the preliminary exam will decide
At a preliminary exam, the judge reviews the prosecution's evidence to decide whether it is sufficient to send the case to circuit court for formal charges and trial preparation. Second-degree murder carries a possible sentence of life or any term of years, while felony firearm convictions require mandatory consecutive prison time, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
No motive has been made public, and prosecutors say the investigation has relied on witness cooperation and investigative leads. Ward is due back in court on June 12, and officials say additional details will likely surface through court filings and official statements as the case proceeds.
